Good God, I'm not a fan of the original at all, but Death Note makes The Dark Tower look like The fuckin' Shining. It took an already stupid concept and stripped it of it's basic intelligibility. It's an "on next week's episode of..." HBO teaser stretched to 100 minutes. 2017's had some pitiful, insulting stuff coming out so far, but this is, for my money, easily one of the worst. I can't decide whether I dislike Death Note more than Ghost in the Shell, but it's at least as bad. It's at least made me angrier than anything else I've seen this year, including The Emoji Movie.

Hahaha - I thought Death Note was pretty freakin' amazing. I loved watching it and had zero frame of reference to the property. Wingard is puling out all of his visual tricks from "The Guest" and made something I normally wouldn't have cared about, well, fun to watch! This could very much be that I loved watching his style and the way the way it was filmed. The characters didn't bother me at all. Matter of fact, I actually warmed up to the dude from Get Out's performance. I hope Wingard does a sequel!!

Totally agree. Death Note was just awful. I never saw or read the original Death Note. I only wanted to watch it because of Wingard & my love for The Guest & You're Next. Man, was this disappointing! It was boring, the acting was borderline terrible, the pacing/tone was off, that ending jeez and it looked cheap. Overall, the movie was just sloppy. Blair Witch & Death Note are back to back duds from Wingard, which sucks. Death Note was the worst movie I've seen this year & I've seen CHIPS.

Maybe this is the thing I'm missing. I loved Blair Witch as well; I think part of why is because I hated the original, and Wingard's movie is equal parts homage and travesty of it; I enjoyed seeing the 'quiet menace' element of the original get flipped completely upside down, with the new version being tactless and loud. I don't like the original Death Note, but I could respect that its appeal for many was its gradual, methodical establishment of a set of rules, and the competitive tete-a-tete between its leads; Wingard totally demolishes that part of it, removing any sense of reason, strategy, or causality from the narrative. If I approach the new Death Note as an act of vandalism, or even a subversion of the very idea of an adaptation, I think I can find things to appreciate. As a straight-ahead movie, though, it's a fucking catastrophe.

Could be different approaches too. I hadn't seen any of the Death Note stuff except the Japanese live action ones where I don't remember anything except being lost and there was some book, haha. So going into this, my only frame of reference was Wingard and the brief synopsis. So, I already know I'm going into a movie about a book with a bunch of rules that has "magical powers" - not my kind of thing. So, I set my mindstate as so. My expectation is "I hope this is "fun"". So what I really responded to was, at face value, the pace and how quickly it moved. I also loved the sets and locations (I swear that high school gym set was the same from The Guest - even possibly with leftover decorations from the "Haunted House"), lighting and color palette, the way he shot it, the score (I loved it) and the soundtrack. Oh, and my main man Shea, of course! The story was nuts in a bad way. I completely agree, and having not even known, that he needed to expand on the rules. There's like hundreds of them and the kid doesn't bother to learn them?! And in return, WE are left in the dark as viewers. That's why I expect a sequel though, I hope. All in all it's kind of my kind of taste where I like style over substance for this kind of film. Much like how I do not like super hero movies for the most part, but Winter Soldier is my favorite cause it had aesthetics and a style I dig. Or The Town that Dreaded Sundown remake is another good example.

Compared to other weeks this summer, this was a light one for movie watching. I suspect the intense pace of the summer (70+ films) is beginning to catch up with me. Besides, sometimes life demands a little more effort than usual from you.

Documentaries are always convenient for me when feeling tired. I saw a couple this week.

GARBO: THE SPY (2009) – This is about a Spaniard named Juan Pujol Garcia, who was a double-agent in World War II. Known as Alaric to German intelligence and Garbo to the British, he became an important part of the British misinformation strategy. The story is fascinating, but the presentation of it is frustrating.

THE LAST BOLSHEVIK (1993) – French filmmaker Chris Marker pays tribute to one his idols, the Soviet director Alexander Medvedkin. This a treat for those who enjoy the trailblazing early period of Soviet cinema.

With October quickly approaching, I decided to start gearing up for the Halloween season with a couple of horror films. It was also an excuse to watch a couple of films languishing in my streaming queues.

THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD (1971) - This is a charming omnibus film from Amicus Studios. The four stories in it are about the unfortunate fates of the renters of a certain country house. Although the house links the stories together, each story functions on its own terms. The first story is weak, but they improve as the film goes along, concluding with a delightfully comic tale of a horror actor, played by Jon Pertwee of Dr. Who fame, who acquires a cloak that might have connections to actual vampires. The third story, starring Christopher Lee as the father of a peculiar little girl, is also excellent. Lee is one of many familiar faces in this. THE HOUSE… should please fans of old-school British horror.

CRYPT OF THE LIVING DEAD, or YOUNG HANNA: QUEEN OF THE VAMPIRES (1973) – Schlocky 1970s horror film about an entombed vampire on a Mediterranean island. Although it is not without effective moments, the slow pacing makes the film a slog to get through, particularly in the middle section. Probably only of interest to fans of low-budget ‘70s horror. I want to call attention to Mark Damon’s performance, however. He gives everything on-screen, enlivening the scenes he is in.

BLONDE CRAZY (1931)- "The age of chivalry is over. This is the age of chiselry."

James Cagney is a scamming his way across the United States with his somewhat reluctant partner in crime, Joan Blondell. I re-watched this delightful pre-code production this morning. Cagney and Blondell have a great chemistry that makes the witty script come to life. There is plenty of risque dialogue and innuendo. In fact, Cagney's character is quite a horny guy. Being a 1930s Warner Brothers film, the narrative flows quickly and does not exactly end happily. One of the surprises of this viewing was noticing Ray Milland, looking unrecognizable in his youth, in a small role.

The only film I saw this week was The Greasy Strangler, which was bizarre, funny and a total delight. And I bought the soundtrack album as soon as I got home. I mean how can you resist a tune like this?

Other than that, I watched Luke Cage, which I really liked (bought that soundtrack as well), and am now 9 episodes deep into Iron Fist, which isn't that bad (my undying love for Jessica Henwick certainly helps).

High school history, seriously? I must know this historical period well bc I've watched this dozens of times. I always dreamed I would go to Ireland and get me a cute Irish farm boy like Tom Cruise. Now I'm too old :(

Blank Check (1994) - A very dumb live-action Disney comedy involving a kid unknowingly gaining possession of a check worth $1 million dollars that was accidentally given by some crooks, which also features a strange subplot with the 12-year-old boy being in love with a 27-year-old FBI agent.

I watched Synecdoche NY, then watched a 100 minute YouTube analysis, then watched it again. Great movie. Features Jennifer Jason Leigh, who is also in the new season of Twin Peaks. Her filmography is incredible. She's worked with Tarantino, the Coens, Verhoeven...

Which female actor's body of work is your favorite? The genre greatness of Sigourney Weaver? The comedies and dramas of Meryl Streep? I'm not talking about the individual performances as much as the filmographies as a whole.

Synecdoche is a movie to be reckoned with. Noticed it wasn't on Patrick's list of movies he hasn't gotten to yet, but remember him saying he hadn't seen it during episode 400, as well as Adam saying (essentially) that he wasn't depressed enough to handle it. WATCH THIS FUCKING MOVIE. It's as conscientiously realized on as large a scale as Playtime, as obsessed with the inscrutability of the human experience as Stalker or Solaris, and takes the innovative impulse behind Being John Malkovich nearly as far as it can stretch. I'm surprised so many viewers are as resistant to it as they are after an authority as trusted and populist as Ebert was ascribed it the level of clout he did. It's exactly as accomplished and important as Mulholland Dr.

I want to say Sally Field because she's just always been my favorite, but Meryl Streep has done more Impressive stuff.I'd like to see Amy Adams do more comedy to round out her filmography because she's great. Who's yours?

Sweet, I love it! Thanks guys! No, the only one you told me about that I didn't watch yet is Sucker Punch. I figured the earbuds from my iPhone while I'm on my yoga mat at the gym is not going to do the soundtrack you described justice. I'm waiting for a...less pathetic setup. Buffalo 66 is my number 5. (Can't believe I have a list now, but I do, and it booted off another very important movie to me!)

Reading all the posts about SYNECDOCHE, I remembered this interview with Charlie Kaufman and Phillip Seymour Hoffman when it came out. (I have a weird memory for these sort of things. Meanwhile, I could not tell you what I was doing last week.) There may be viewing restrictions for those outside of the U.S.

Just got back from Good Time. I know a lot of people are high on it, but I disliked nearly every second of it. It's a character-driven drama built around characters who are never likeable or interesting. The plot has some solid turns, and there's some interesting dialogue near the end, but not much there.

Just watched "Unlocked". I liked it just fine. Directed by Michael Apated, it feels like a 90's DTV action film that would have been a hit back then. The cast is nuts - Noomi Rapace, Orlando Bloom, Toni Colette (looking like Annie Lennox), John Malcovic and Michael Douglas.

Dennis, I know you were devastated not being able to making it to the LA screening of XTRO, but you got a sweet shout out on Shock Waves! I’m convinced you willed that screening into existence. Congrats!

Brilliant. Thanks for the heads up. I have not listened to the latest one yet. I'm glad Rob went to it. I heard from a few it played really well. I was definitely there in spirit and also Platinum Cult Edition have just started to send out the Blurays so I'm hoping to own it eventually next week!

It is already sold out with preorders. But at least The UK release comes out next year

Thanks to Patrick and the F This Movie community I discovered and love the work of Tobe Hooper. I hardly ever comment but am a devoted listener and reader. Therefore, I feel I know the people around here a little. Still I can’t even imagine how hard this must hit, Patrick especially. I wish him (and everybody else) every strength in the world to deal with this loss. Tobe Hooper has made some great movies, they will stay forever!

based on this week's streaming suggestions, i saw Slackers. i remember watching it years ago, without it registering with me. but i was a different man back then. now i can enjoy the crazyness of this movie. and Laura Prepon 'on the couch' is a bonus.

i also saw The Hitman's Bodyguard. yes it tries to be too many things at the same time, but Ryan Reynolds is always fun. and Samuel L Jackson is as he always is. not the greatest movie in the world, but a fun way to pass 2 hours.

Agree. I'm as sad for losing Hooper as any other director besides Romero (whose passing really stung... still does :'( ). But the first thing I thought when I read of Tobe's passing was how hard Patrick would take the news, and that made me a sad panda. You know, the same thing that'll happen to me when David Cronenberg eventually meets his maker. :-(

I rarely ever comment, but like so many of you, the first person I thought of Patrick and how hard he would take this news. Patrick is the main reason I gained a completely new appreciation for Hooper's work. I'm pretty sad right now, but I can't imagine how Patrick is taking it and that really bums me out. We just will have to celebrate his legacy and his films.

I came here to say pretty much what everyone else is. I wouldn't have even known who Tobe Hooper was if not for the site/podcast, and Patrick's love for his work. And like others, Patrick was the first person I thought of when I saw the news. Rest in Peace Mr. Hooper, and best wishes to his many fans.

That is very sad. My heart sank when hearing the news. My condolences to his family and to Patrick. I hope you find comfort in his amazing body of work, I'll definitely be watching the funhouse tonight in memory of him!

My personal "philosophy of death" keeps me from getting too shaken up by these things, but thinking of Patrick today and hoping he, and anyone else who might be taking this one hard, is doing relatively okay and finding some comfort in all the great things Tobe left behind. Here's to an underappreciated (by wrong people) master!